Device for withdrawing sewn material from sewing machines



May 14, 1968 K. HEDEGAARD DEVICE FOR WITHDRAWING SEWN MATERIAL FROM SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

Filed Aug. 31, 1966 INVENTOR. klP/srz/v/vwzqA/wo y 1968 K. HEDEGAARD 3,383,107

DEVICE FOR WITHDRAWING SEWN MATERIAL FROM SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 31; 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for withdrawing sewn material from a sewing machine which comprises a sleeve supporting a sliding bar having a guide finger for the sewn blanks that is angularly and axially movable on a carriage which is reciprocally movable in a plane by an endless conveyor under the control of a motor having a switch acted on by a cam on the carriage and also by contacts. associated with the presser foot of the sewing machine.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to sewing machines and is particularly concerned with a device for withdrawing finished sewn material from the sewing machine work table by means of a catcher or guide that engages the material.

Summary of the invention It is an object of the invention to simplify the work of the seamstress and to rnechanize the withdrawing and orienting of the sewn material by constructing the device for withdrawing the material in a manner that the sewn material after cutting off the threads at the end of a seam is automatically guided away and oriented as to position and form.

In accordance with the invention the problem posed by this object is solved in that the guide mounted on an endless conveyor moved by way of pulleys is adapted to be seated on the sewn material and rotatable during the withdrawing of the material about an axis which is generally perpendicular with respect to the material supporting 4:, surface.

In one embodiment of the invention which is of particularly simple construction and largely insensible to disruptions the guide is secured to one end of a sliding bar that is journalled in a sleeve which is axially slidable r in the bore of a sliding carriage that is movable on sliding tracks and connected with the endless conveyer, and which sleeve carries a lever at its upper end which under the biasing action of a spring during the withdrawal of the sewn material engages a slide rail in its path of operation which effects the rotation of the sliding bar.

In order to enable setting of the rotational movement of the guide within a predetermined angular range and thus set the device for the withdrawing and straig tening of the sewn blanks of different circumferences and differently disposed seams, which must assume different positions for stacking, the sliding bar is biased by the spring during return of the guide with an abutment secured to the sliding bar against a counter abutment which limits the rotational movement thereof.

3,383,107 Patented May 14, 1968 Brief description of the drawings Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device with the guide seated on the sewn material and where a part of a sewing machine is indicated;

FIGS. 2 to 4 are top views of a sewing table with blanks of different circumferential shapes and differently extend ing seams in the position in which they leave the stitch forming location on the sewing machine and in the position in which they are stacked after being aligned;

FIG. 5 is a section taken transversely with respect to the guide carriage.

Description of preferred embodiment The carrier 3 of the device is pivotally mounted on a supporting arm 2 that can be fastened to the sewing table but is secured by a braking means (not shown) in the position illustrated against unintentional changing of its position. A motor 4 with a drive wheel 5 is mounted on the carrier 3. In bores of the carrier 3 two guide bars 6, 7 for a sliding carriage 8 are secured and extend parallel to one another and are held together by a connecting member 9 arranged at a distance from the carrier 3, and having bores in alignment with the bores in said carrier, thus forming a guiding frame. A bar 10 is secured to the connecting member 9 on which a reversing pulley 11 is rotatably journalled. A round belt 12 is arranged around the drive wheel or pulley 5 and the reversing pulley 11, the outwardly bent ends of which are connected by means of a belt joint or lock 13. The belt joint or lock 13 has a lateral carrier stud 14 which extends into a bore of a bifurcated member 15. The bifurcated member 15 is secured on a sleeve 16 that is slidably journalled in the sliding carriage 8 for axial displacement and, together with a sleeve guide or pin 17 that is secured to the sliding carriage 8 and received in the jaws or aperture of the bifurcated member or guided member 15, serves to prevent sleeve 16 from rotating.

In the sleeve 16 a sliding bar 18 is mounted for rotation and axial displacement and carries at its lower end which extends from the sleeve 16 a guide or mover 19 for the sewn material, the bottom end of which is covered with an elastic material, At the upper end of the sliding bar 18 a double-armed crank 20 is secured, A fecler or scanning lever 21 is secured to one arm of the crank 20, the downwardly bent end of which cooperates, when the guide finger 19 is placed upon the work blank, with a guide rail 22 secured to the carrier 3, which rail is arranged in the range of movement of the bent end. The forward end of the guide rail 22 is bent at an angle of approximately The other arm of the crank defines an abutment 23 and for limiting the rotary movement of the slide bar 13 cooperates with a counter abutment 24 which is adjustable or settable in an arcuately shaped longitudinal slot 25 of a slide bar guide 26 secured to the upper end of the sleeve 16. By means of a torsion spring 27 that is sup ported at one end on the slide bar guide 26 and at the other end against the feeler 21, the sliding bar 18 is turned in a manner that with the guide finger 19 lifted from the work blank 33, i.e., during the return of the sliding carriage 8, the abutment 23 engages the counter abutment 24. A slide bar guide spring 28 arranged upon the sliding bar 18 between the crank and the upper surface of the slide bar guide 26 presses the sliding bar 13 downwardly against the sewing table 1.

A cam 29 is secured to the sliding carriage 8 which cooperates with the roller 3% of the shifting lever 31 of a normally closed end switch 32 for disconnecting the motor 4. Switch 32 is secured to the bar 10 and each time after a complete rotation of the mover 19, and after the withdrawing of a work blank 33, 34 or from the sewing table 1 behind the stitch forming location, to a stack container 36 provided behind the rear edge of the sewing table which is adapted to the shape of the work blank and secured to the sewing table or a slide, and after return of the sliding carriage 8 to its initial position the cam 29 actuates the switch lever 31 of the end switch 32 by way of the roller 30, and switch 32 thus interrupts the current supply to the motor 4.

It must be mentioned here for the sake of better understanding that the device for withdrawing the scwn material from sewing machines is arranged, as seen in the direction of feeding, behind the partly illustrated sewing machine 37 which has the usual presser foot 38 and the thread guiding needle secured to the reciprocably movable needle bar 39 and which needle cooperates in a known manner with the looper (not shown) for producing seams.

The device operates as follows: The work blanks 33, 34, 35, shown by way of example in FIGS. 2 to 4, leave the stitch forming position always in the direction in which the seam extends, in the position illustrated in the lower part of the drawing. The most favorable position for stacking the individual work blanks, in which the withdrawing thereof by way of the rear edge of the sewing table and direct release to a stack container (for example, 36) is possible without introducing an intermedi ate depositing plate, is illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 of the drawings at the top.

It can be seen that only the work blank 35 (FIG. 4) assumes the most favorable position for stacking, while the work blanks 33 and 34 during withdrawing by way of the rear edge of the sewing table, in the position shown at the bottom in the drawing, in which they leave the stitch forming position, would tilt over the edge of the table due to the slight stiffness of the material. Therefore, orderly stacking would not be possible.

Let us now assume that the seam illustrated in dash lines has been completed on a work blank 33 or 34 and that the presser foot 38 is still down on the work blank so that the work blank 33 or 34 assumes the position illustrated in FIG. 2 or 3. The cam 29 has opened the switch 32 by way of roller 30 and switch arm 31, the guide 19 is raised from the sewing table, the abutment 23 of the crank 20 rests against the counter abutment 24 under the effect of the spring 27.

As the presser foot 38 is raised, the motor 4 is actuated by way of a switch (not illustrated) so that the motor 4 moves the drive pulley 5 and thus by way of the cord belt 12 the belt joint or lock 13 secured to the outside of the cord belt 12 and the bifurcated member 15 securely connected with the sleeve 16 moves the sliding carriage 8 together with the components mounted on the carriage.

The sleeve 16 which is joined to the round or cord belt 12 with the sliding rod 18 journalled therein, which in turn supports the guide finger 19, is forced to move downwardly as the belt joint 13 rolls over the return pulley 11, so that the guide finger 19 secured to the sliding rod 18, moving against the etfect of the spring 28 onto the work blank 33 or 34, is seated approximately at the center of gravity of its plane. The end of the scanning lever 21 which is bent downwardly is moved at the same time into the range of the guide rail 22. The cam 29 releases the switch lever 31 of the end switch 32, thereby closing the contacts of said switch so that the tit) motor 4 can continue to run also when the presser foot 38 is lowered again immediately after being raised from the Work blank and after a new work blank has been inserted, whereby as aforementioned, the motor 4 is actuated by means of a switch that is not illustrated.

During the feeding movement in the direction of the arrow F with the guide finger 1% seated on the work blank 33 or 34, the downwardly bent end of the scanning lever 21 rests against the guide rail 22. By means of the angular end of the guide rail 22 the sliding rod 18 with the guide finger 19 and thus also the work blank 33 or 34 is turned against the effect of the spring 27 about the longitudinal axis of the sliding rod 18 as axis of rotation and thus is straightened out as to form and position, and that preferably in such a manner that the longitudinal axes of the work blanks extend parallel to the rear edge of the sewing table. By adjusting the abutment 24 in the arcuate slot 25 it is possible to continually adjust the rotary movement to the form and to the direction of the seam of the difierent work blanks within a predetermined angular range which in the embodiment illustrated is between zero and a rotation of about The work blank 33 or 34 is moved at a predetermined velocity over the rear edge of the sewing table 1 and due to its weight drops into the stack container 36 that is arranged behind the sewing table and adapted to con-- form to the shape of the work blank.

During the return of the sliding carriage 8 the guide finger 19 secured to the sliding rod 13 is forced to move upwardly together with the sleeve 16. The turned olf end of the scanning lever 21 thus disengages the guide rail 22, whereupon the abutment 23 of the crank 2 secured to the sliding bar 18 is pressed by the spring 27 against the adjustable counter abutment 24.

Upon reaching the starting position the cam 23 engages the roller 30 of the switch lever 31, thus opening the end switch 32 and disconnecting the motor so that the sliding carriage 8 stands still in the starting position with the components mounted thereon, until by lifting the presser foot 38 the motor 4 is again actuated and the course of operations described above is repeated.

Having now described my invention with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, I do not wish to be limited thereto, but what I desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is set forth in the appended claims.

I Claim:

1. Device for withdrawing the sewn material from a sewing machine, comprising guide bar means, movable carriage means slidably supported on said guide bar means, means including a motor and an endless conveyor for imparting movement to said carriage means, a sleeve slidably journalled on said carriage and supporting a sliding bar having a guide finger at its lower end operative to contact the sewn material on the sewing machine during withdrawal, guide means for imparting angular and axial movement to said sliding bar and said finger supported on said bar, a sleeve guide on said carriage, a guided member secured to said sleeve having guiding engagement with said sleeve guide, said conveyor having a belt joint adjacent said guided member and a stud extending between said belt joint and said guided member, said belt joint, said stud, said guided member and said sleeve being movable with said conveyor along the conveyor path and simultaneously imparting reciprocating movement to said carriage, and supporting arm means supporting said carriage means, said guide means, said motor and said conveyor adjacent a sewing machine.

2. Device in accordance with claim 1, where said guide means include a scanning lever at the upper end of said sliding bar, a guide rail extending proximate the path of travel of said scanning lever, and a spring biasing said lever against said guide rail during movement of said carriage for turning said bar and finger and thereby a work blank.

3. Device in accordance with claim 2 including a slide bar guide at the upper end of said sleeve, an abutment member supporting said scanning lever on said sliding bar, a counter abutment on said slide bar guide for engagement by said abutment member upon return of said lever under the bias of said spring, an arcuate slot in said slide bar guide for supporting said counter abutment in dilferent positions and a slide bar biasing spring intermediate said slide bar guide and said abutment member.

4. Device in accordance with claim 3, where said car- 10 riage supports a cam and said motor comprises a switch having an operating lever in the path of travel of said cam operative to disconnect said motor in one end position of said carriage.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,170,423 2/1965 Henebry 1122 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner, 

